BCSO driven to help beat cancer // VIDEO

Deputy Timothy Bowen takes the rear wheel off of a car designed to skid out of control at the North Bay Learning Center in Southport on Wednesday.

Andrew P Johnson | The News Herald

By CHRIS OLWELL / The News Herald

Published: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 08:11 PM.

SOUTHPORT — The Bay County Sheriff’s Office put a bunch of journalists behind the wheel of a car with special rear-wheel covers designed to make the car skid out at the slightest provocation Wednesday.

Miraculously no one was hurt, though a couple traffic cones took a beating.

Deputy Timothy Bowen gave brief tutorials to the reporters before taking the passenger seat and riding along as they tore through a short course designed to accustom drivers to the experience of regaining control of a two-ton death machine.

On Saturday, anyone with a valid license or permit, 10 bucks and either a desire to fight cancer, a love of spinning donuts or a death wish can get behind the wheel and take the car for spin. Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the North Bay Learning Center on Steam Plant Road (County 2300), a deputy will show how it’s done and hand over the keys.

SOUTHPORT — The Bay County Sheriff’s Office put a bunch of journalists behind the wheel of a car with special rear-wheel covers designed to make the car skid out at the slightest provocation Wednesday.

Miraculously no one was hurt, though a couple traffic cones took a beating.

Deputy Timothy Bowen gave brief tutorials to the reporters before taking the passenger seat and riding along as they tore through a short course designed to accustom drivers to the experience of regaining control of a two-ton death machine.

On Saturday, anyone with a valid license or permit, 10 bucks and either a desire to fight cancer, a love of spinning donuts or a death wish can get behind the wheel and take the car for spin. Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the North Bay Learning Center on Steam Plant Road (County 2300), a deputy will show how it’s done and hand over the keys.

Buckle up.

“Driver’s ed doesn’t teach these maneuvers,” Bowen said.

Beginning in June, the Sheriff’s Office will hold the Teen Driver’s Challenge, which intends to ensure young people know what to do behind the wheel to avoid tragedy, and what not to do.

Overcorrection is one of the leading causes of traffic crashes for teen drivers, said Major Tommy Ford, “and distracted driving contributes to that.”

The 1998 Mercury they will get a chance to drive is painted black with a pledge printed on the hood, Bowen said. At the end of the program, which is for teens between the ages of 15 and 19 with a valid license or learner’s permit, participants will pledge not to text and drive by signing the car.

The events are part of the BCSO’s Cancer Drive, an effort to raise money for cancer research, said BCSO spokeswoman Ruth Corley. The BCSO, like most organizations and families, has had people die from cancer, she said.

“We feel very strongly about raising money to fund research to fight this disease,” Corley said.

The first event is Drive and Donate today from 6 a.m. until 9 a.m. at the Sheriff’s Office. Simply pull into the parking lot, make a donation and grab a light breakfast, Corley said.

The BCSO will host another fundraiser April 20 at the Shrimp Boat in St. Andrews. A $20 donation gets you in, and proceeds go to the American Cancer Society and the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.

Tickets and sponsorships are available at the Sheriff’s Office. Call the Sheriff’s Office at 747-4700 and ask for Corley for more information.

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